Patriots back-ups prepare like starters

For Brandon Boldon and Jonathan Jones, two Patriots special teams standouts, preparing like a starter means being ready to 'step in and step up' when called upon.

By Rich Garven@RichGarvenTG

FOXBORO — Brandon Bolden was a key contributor on special teams this season as the Patriots posted a 13-3 record and earned the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

But the sixth-year pro, who made the Patriots as an undrafted rookie in 2012, typically had limited opportunities to contribute at his listed position of running back. He gained 21 yards on four carries and wasn’t targeted for a pass while playing eight offensive snaps in the first 15 games.

Then, with Rex Burkhead, Mike Gillislee and James White sidelined for the regular-season finale against the New York Jets last Sunday, Bolden vaulted three rungs up the depth chart. He responded by rushing for 46 yards on nine carries and catching a pass while playing 34 snaps in a 26-6 win.

Bolden didn’t start — the last time that happened was Week 16 in 2015 — but he had prepared like a starter, as had been the case week after week since September. So he was ready to contribute when the opportunity presented itself.

“It’s just about coming to work every day, paying attention in every meeting,” Bolden said. “I’ve been blessed to have a great [running backs] room every year. It’s different guys, but great guys every year. If there’s something I need or some look I didn’t quite get, I can go and ask them immediately.

“And Coach Ivan Fears has been doing a great job of keeping us together, keeping us levelheaded and making sure our minds are in the right direction.”

It seems simple enough, the concept of preparing like a starter.

After all, these are athletes who are paid to do their job. What they’re asked to do and when is up to their coaches with injuries to and ineffectiveness of their teammates also part of the equation.

And in some ways it is simple, as long as one is disciplined and motivated — two traits long associated with Bill Belichick-coached teams.

For second-year cornerback Jonathan Jones, another standout on special teams, preparing like a starter means being ready “for anything” so one can “step in and step up” when called upon.

It could be a reserve player is told Friday he’ll be starting Sunday. Or perhaps he’s waved into the game minutes after kickoff.

So with that in mind, staying mentally engaged during the work week isn’t a chore.

“I mean, like last year we’d take four corners into the game and I knew I was the backup,” Jones said. “So you’re only one injury away. There are only 53 guys on the roster, so when someone goes down — and it’s football, there’s an opportunity for injury every week — you have to know exactly what’s going on so you can step in.”

That was the case last season after Cyrus Jones ejected for fighting in a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 5. Jonathan Jones came in and played 32 snaps, which matched his total in the other 15 games he appeared in as a rookie.

Jones’ playing time ebbed and flowed this season until Week 11 when he made the first of four straight starts, during which he averaged 55 snaps, was in on 20 tackles and broke up a pass. Then he found himself back on the sideline, receiving one snap in the next two games.

The approach didn’t change even though the level of activity did.

“It’s the same, you’re going to prepare like you’re starting whether you are or not,” Jones said. “When guys do go down you don’t want to miss a beat and there’s pride all around here of guys being ready to step up.”

As for the coaching staff, the preparatory process includes making sure every player on the 53-man roster gets plenty of reps in practice. Belichick said few players get more than 50 percent of the snaps in a workout.

In addition, nearly everyone spends time on the scout teams, allowing them to keep sharp and hone their fundamentals while going against a core group of starters.

“So, players get plenty of snaps in practice, and the ones they get they can take advantage of to work on the things that they can work on,” Belichick said. “And, the things that they aren’t able to work on, then we have to find another way to be able to prepare the players for those, and that’s meetings and walkthroughs and other things like that.”

And whether it was Bolden, Jones or so many of their teammates, the Patriots have reaped the rewards of having the 64 players who have suited up on game day prepared as if they were one of the 22 starters.